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Milk's assassination has become entwined with his political efficacy, partly because he was killed at the zenith of his popularity.
Harvey Milk's political career centered on making government responsive to individuals, gay liberation, and the importance of neighborhoods to the city. His political philosophy evolved over several campaigns; although he never hid the fact that he was gay, it did not become an issue until his race for the California State Assembly in 1976, where it became prominent as extension of his ideas of individual freedom.[1] Through all his campaigns, Milk believed that neighborhoods promoted unity and a small-town experience, and that the Castro should provide services to all its residents. In the last year of his life, Milk emphasized that gay people should be more visible to help to end the discrimination and violence against them.
The City of San Francisco has paid tribute to Milk by naming several locations after him.[note 1] The San Francisco Gay Democratic Club changed its name to the Harvey Milk Memorial Gay Democratic Club in 1978 and boasts that it is the largest Democratic organization in San Francisco.[2]
In New York City, Harvey Milk High School is a school program for at-risk youth that concentrates on the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students and operates out of the Hetrick Martin Institute.[3] Randy Shilts completed a biography of Milk in 1982 titled The Mayor of Castro Street and The Times of Harvey Milk, a documentary film based on the book's material, won the 1984 Academy Award for Documentary Feature.[4] A musical theater production titled The Harvey Milk Show premiered in 1991.[5] Harvey Milk, an opera written by Stewart Wallace debuted in 1996.[6] In 2008 a biopic named Milk was released and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.[7]
Milk was included in the "Time 100 Heroes and Icons of the 20th Century" as "a symbol of what gays can accomplish and the dangers they face in doing so".[8] The Advocate listed Milk third in their "40 Heroes" of the 20th century issue[9]
- ^ Foss, Karen (1988). "You Have to Give Them Hope", Journal of the West, 27 p. 75–81. ISSN 0022-5169
- ^ The Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club (August 2008). The Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club website. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ^ What People are Asking About HMHS Hetrick Martin Institute, 2008. Retrieved on September 7, 2008.
- ^ Monday Nights with Oscar: The Times of Harvey Milk, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 1984. Retrieved on September 7, 2008.
- ^ Winn, Steven (February 27, 1999). "`Milk' Too Wholesome For the Man", The San Francisco Chronicle, p. E1.
- ^ Swed, Mark (November 20, 1996). "Opera Review: A Revised 'Harvey Milk,' Finds Heart in San Francisco", The Los Angeles Times, p. F3.
- ^ 'Benjamin Button' tops with 13 Oscar nominations (January 23, 2009), CNN.com. Retrieved on January 23, 2009.
- ^ Cloud, John (June 14, 1999). "Harvey Milk", Time. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.
- ^ 40 Heroes, The Advocate (September 25, 2007), Issue 993. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.
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